Planning a trip to Russia in 2025 from Europe or the UK? You’ve probably noticed that flights no longer show up on Skyscanner or Google Flights. That’s because direct air routes between Russia and the EU remain suspended due to sanctions.
But here’s the good news: it’s still absolutely possible – and legal – to fly to Russia in 2025 from Europe or the UK. You just need to go through a third country that isn’t subject to the same airspace restrictions.
In this fully updated guide, I’ll show you how to fly to Russia in 2025, which are the best airlines, how to book your tickets despite the restrictions and some prices.
I’ll also share with your my tested itinerary and some tips for a smooth journey.
Last updated: 12/09/2025
Can you still travel to Russia in 2025 from the UK or EU?
Yes, you can still fly to Russia – just not directly from any EU or UK airport.
Since early 2022, flights between Russia and most of Europe have been halted due to the Ukraine conflict and related sanctions. European and North American carriers stopped servicing Russian destinations, and Russian airlines like Aeroflot were banned from EU and UK airspace.
As of January 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) states: “No European airline currently operates to, from, or over Russian airspace.”
So how are people still flying to Russia?
You need to transit through a third country that hasn’t imposed flight restrictions. The most reliable transit points are:
• Serbia (via Air Serbia)
• Turkey (via Turkish Airlines)
• United Arab Emirates (via Emirates ou FlyDubai)
• Armenia, Kazakhstan, or Azerbaijan (less common but possible)
From these countries, daily flights connect to cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, and more.
Why you won’t find Russia flights on Google Flights or Skyscanner
If you’ve searched for Russia flights on Kayak, Skyscanner or Google Flights, you might be wondering why nothing shows up.
Here’s what’s happening:
• Russia is hidden from most travel platforms due to EU and US-based tech compliance.
• Airlines like Aeroflot and Pobeda were removed from international booking databases (GDS).
• Even flights with legal stopovers (e.g. Istanbul → Moscow) often don’t display final destinations.
My advice? Search flights directly on Air Serbia or Turkish Airlines. You’ll get clearer routes and confirmed availability.
Trip.com: Alternative to Skyscanner that still shows Russia flights in 2025
Trip.com is one of the few comparison platforms that still shows real-time routes into and within Russia, including options that most Western sites now block or hide.
It works for:
• Flights from Europe to Moscow via Belgrad, Istanbul etc. with Western & Russian airlines
• Flights to smaller or regional Russian cities (e.g. Istanbul → Grozny)
• Russian carriers like Aeroflot, Pobeda, and Ural Airlines
• Domestic routes inside Russia
Best flight routes to Russia in 2025: Where to transit
Depending on where you’re departing from in Europe or the UK, these countries are your best bets for connecting to Russia:
• Serbia Flights from London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt → Belgrade; Daily connections Belgrade → Moscow (Air Serbia)
• Turkey: Turkish Airlines offers connections from most major cities; Daily flights from Istanbul or Ankara to dozens of Russian cities
• United Arab Emirates: Emirates/FlyDubai fly from Dubai to Moscow, St. Petersburg, etc.; Slightly longer routing, but reliable and frequent
• Armenia: Yerevan to Moscow or Sochi
• Kazakhstan: Almaty or Nursultan (Astana) to Russia
⚠️ Check transit visa requirements before booking if you’re not an EU citizen.
Airlines that still fly to Russia (no VPN needed)
Today, only a handful of airlines still offer relatively direct routes to Russia from Western Europe. The two most accessible and reliable options are Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines. Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
Air Serbia: Direct & practical via Belgrade
Air Serbia is one of the most straightforward ways to reach Moscow or St. Petersburg in 2025.
• Daily flights from major cities (London, Paris, Frankfurt) to Belgrade
• One short layover, then direct to Russia
• Luggage checked through to final destination
• European airline not subject to EU sanctions
• Average fare: 350€ – 500€
→ Book directly on their site for best clarity
My experience: smooth transfers, no issues at Belgrade airport, and good onboard service.
Turkish Airlines: Wide network, reliable
If you’re flying from anywhere in Europe or the UK and want to reach cities beyond Moscow, Turkish Airlines is your go-to.
• Multiple daily flights from major cities to Istanbul
• Connect to over 20 Russian cities, including Kazan, Ekaterinburg, Perm, Novosibirsk
• Reliable schedules, good onboard service
• Average return fare: €700–€900
→ Search a flight
Travel tip: Low-cost flights often land in SAW (Sabiha Gökçen), while international Turkish flights depart from IST. They’re far apart and the later is huge. Leave enough time for transfer. I almost missed my connection to Sochi once.
Air Serbia vs Turkish Airlines: Which should you choose?
*Prices are indicative, based on round-trip fares from Paris to Moscow (as I am French), for early October 2025 (about 3 months in advance at the time of updating). If you’re flexible with your dates, you can often find good deals – but prices can also skyrocket quickly.
|
Criteria |
Air Serbia 🇷🇸 |
Turkish Airlines 🇹🇷 |
|---|---|---|
|
Stopover city |
Belgrade |
Istanbul |
|
Destinations |
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi or even Ekaterinbourg |
20+ cities including Omsk, Perm, |
|
Price (RT avg.) |
700-950 € |
700-1200 € |
|
Frequency |
5 to 12 flights/day |
Dozens of daily flights/day |
My recommendation:
• Just going to Moscow or St. Petersburg? Air Serbia is simpler.
• Need to reach other cities or flying from regional airports? Turkish Airlines offers more reach.
My personal experience: I’ve flown with both airlines in recent years. Neither is low-cost — onboard service is solid, layovers are well-managed, and the schedules are generally reliable. Choose based on your priorities: simplicity or flexibility.
How to actually book a flight to Russia in 2025
Most flight comparison tools no longer show any routes to Russia, even with layovers.
The easiest (and often cheapest) way is to book directly on the websites of reliable airlines like Air Serbia or Turkish Airlines.
A few quick booking tips:
• Book 2–3 months in advance for better prices
• Avoid school holidays — both in Europe and Russia
• No VPN needed: payments on Russian sites won’t work with European cards, so stick to international airlines
Note on the airlines choices
In this guide, I focus on Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines because – as of 2025 – they’re the two most reliable and straightforward options for flying to Russia from Western Europe.
Sure, there are other possible routes: via Central Asia, the Gulf states, or lesser-known low-cost carriers. But in most cases, those are: Longer, more complicated and rarely cheaper in the end.
Unless you enjoy spending three days in airports or flying halfway around the world just to get to Moscow… well, be my guest.
👉 Looking for true low-cost options to enter Russia?
You might want to check out my guides to overland travel. The bus is still the cheapest way in.
Is it legal to travel to Russia from Europe in 2025?
Yes, it is fully legal for EU and UK citizens to travel to Russia.
There is no law that prevents European or British nationals from entering Russia. However, most foreign ministries strongly discourage travel due to geopolitical tensions.
That said:
• The French and German embassies (for example) in Moscow remain open
• The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel, but does not ban it
Travel Advisory Resources:
– UK Foreign Office – Russia Travel Advice
– German Federal Foreign Office – Russia Travel Page (EN)
FAQ: Booking flights to Russia in 2025
Book your flight to Russia in 2025
• Air Serbia
Fast, simple routes to Moscow and St. Petersburg via Belgrade
➡️ Book on Air Serbia
• Turkish Airlines
More flexibility and destinations across Russia
➡️ Search for a flight
Safe travels!
